Strain gauge for medical applications
AssigneeEdenTec
InventorBruce R. Bowman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A strain gauge and method of making same for use in certain medical applications, such as sensing the occurrence of an apnea event. The device is also applicable to monitoring mechanical motion associated with other medical conditions. The strain gauge actually measures the change in direct current resistance produced by stretching and compression of a number of carbon deposits coupled in series on a longitudinally extendible substrate. This extendibility is produced by suitably die cutting a flexible but inherently inelastic insulative substrate. The easily produced device may be used externally or encapsulated for implantation.
Claims10
A strain gauge comprising:
- a. an inelastic substrate;
- b. a path of highly conductive material affixed to said inelastic substrate having a plurality of breaks in conductivity;
- c. a coupling of material at each of said plurality of breaks to complete electrical conductivity of said path which coupling changes an electrical characteristic upon deformation;
- and
- d. means for causing deformation of said coupling of material at each of said plurality of breaks in response to tension applied to said inelastic substrate.
A method of manufacturing a strain gauge comprising:
- a. selecting a substrate of inelastic material;
- b. fixing a path of highly conductive material to said substrate having a plurality of breaks in conductivity;
- c. placing a material of lower conductivity at each of said plurality of breaks in conductivity;
- and
- d. cutting said substrate in such a manner that tension on said substrate causes said material of lower conductivity to deform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.